Music: {allcanada} CANADA BEATS AUSTRALIA TO WIN BRONZE AT SOFTBALL WORLD CUP

Monday, July 25, 2011

{allcanada} CANADA BEATS AUSTRALIA TO WIN BRONZE AT SOFTBALL WORLD CUP

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Jenna Caira scattered eight hits over seven innings as Canada collected a bronze medal at the World Cup of Softball on Monday with a 4-1 victory over Australia.

The Toronto native gave up one run in a complete game, while striking out two and walking two.

Australia opened the scoring in the third, loading the bases before Stacey McManus hit a pinch-hit, two-out single to bring in the first run of the game.

Canada quickly responded, tying the game in the bottom of the inning.

After Melanie Matthews reached on a fielder's choice, Toronto's Victoria Hayward sacrificed her to second. Matthews then scored on an error by the first base player to tie the game 1-1.

Canada went up 3-1 in the next inning when Danielle Lopez of Barrie, Ont., hit an RBI single up the middle to bring in Joey Lye. Toronto's Hannah Schwarz then executed a squeeze play to score another run.

Canada added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Hayward hit an RBI single to the right side of the infield.

Caira retired the first two hitters in the top of the seventh, and after a single, forced a ground out to third to close out the game.

Next up for Canada is the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Oct. 17-23.